What is Michael Barrett's Status?
SIAP but a search didn't show any real results. I was a bit surprised when Ross went out against Rutgers that we saw Mullings and Colson, but did not see Michael Barrett. If I'm not mistaken he did field a short kickoff so he was on the field.
Harbaugh mentioned post game when talking about how the young LBs played that they need to get Barrett going again - what did he mean by that? Is Barrett just not a MLB or why didn't he see any snaps on D? He was a starter at Viper under Don Brown, was surprised to see freshman playing over him in the 2-deep.
September 28th, 2021 at 12:07 AM ^
No spot for vipers in this scheme it seems. Not good for him and guys like Aubrey Solomon.
September 28th, 2021 at 12:12 AM ^
That was my initial thought, just too small to play in the middle in this scheme, and that probably is the answer. He was probably closer to a S than an ILB.
He was special teams player of the week so he did in fact play, just no snaps on D.
When Harbaugh mentioned that alignments and pre snap reads were more of a challenge without Ross it just hit me that they have a SR LB who didn't see the field on D.
September 28th, 2021 at 12:16 AM ^
It's even worse for Anthony Solomon. Aubrey Solomon is busy getting benched at Tennessee.
September 28th, 2021 at 5:24 AM ^
Well Aubrey goes to Tenn and plays DT, but Anthony isn't very big. Look at the size difference between him and Ross.
September 28th, 2021 at 7:10 AM ^
I hope that’s just the camera angle.
September 28th, 2021 at 7:57 AM ^
Well he is listed as just 3 pounds heavier than Cade McNamara, and the same height, so imagine Cade McNamara playing LB.
September 28th, 2021 at 7:58 AM ^
Double post
September 28th, 2021 at 8:50 AM ^
I mean maybe. Or maybe not. Are we sure that the south end scoreboard isn't the size of an ipad?
September 28th, 2021 at 8:35 AM ^
Upvoted because I thought this was a joke about Aubrey Solomon being a snake.
September 28th, 2021 at 12:19 AM ^
Benched
September 28th, 2021 at 12:32 AM ^
Mullings and Colson are SAM back ups to Josh Ross.
Barrett is the Will back up to Hill-Green.
Colson plays some Will as well and may have passed Barrett but probably more for running downs. Barrett is better in coverage.
September 28th, 2021 at 7:09 AM ^
I’ve heard that that the depth chart is more like this:
Ross, Mullings, Hood
NHG, Colson, Barrett
Seems like Colson has definitely passed Barrett since there’s even talks that he could supplant NHG by seasons end if he continues his current trajectory.
September 28th, 2021 at 9:35 AM ^
Pretty sure Colson has been getting more snaps than Barrett on D all season so far, so I think you are correct and this is not a new development...
Unfortunately I think most of this is as described above; people like him and Solomon got stuck being perfect Viper fits in a defense without a Viper
September 28th, 2021 at 10:18 AM ^
Colson will play in the NFL, future All Big Ten
September 28th, 2021 at 12:05 PM ^
This is correct. Unless Barrett loses weight and plays nickel LB/CB i don't see him playing in this defense. He played poorly last year in a defense that fits him.
September 28th, 2021 at 9:34 AM ^
I'm curious of why there is no mention of Mullings having a cast on his hand. That would affect any and all LB play.
September 28th, 2021 at 10:33 AM ^
Exactly. He had a club on his hand. That can't be good for tackling.
September 28th, 2021 at 11:13 AM ^
It's actually not that big of an impact when playing linebacker. Sure you can only grab cloth with one hand, but you can still shed blocks and wrap up with a club. As long as he isn't in pain, there shouldn't really be any drop off in ability. A player I coached had intercepted a screen and housed it with a club on. I had to play with one in college too, as an OLB in a 3-3 stack, didn't see play drop off at all. No biggie on that which is why they haven't mentioned it.
September 28th, 2021 at 11:13 AM ^
It's actually not that big of an impact when playing linebacker. Sure you can only grab cloth with one hand, but you can still shed blocks and wrap up with a club. As long as he isn't in pain, there shouldn't really be any drop off in ability. A player I coached had intercepted a screen and housed it with a club on. I had to play with one in college too, as an OLB in a 3-3 stack, didn't see play drop off at all. No biggie on that which is why they haven't mentioned it.
September 28th, 2021 at 12:33 AM ^
As others have mentioned, Viper was a Don Brown special that left with him. Definitely not great for the 6'0" safety/linebacker hybrids in the mold of Barrett, Solomon, Velazquez. Still, they're ideal special teams guys, so they'll see time on the field in that department.
Instead, the Matt Judon role of big DE/OLB is now the preferred tweener role in the Macdonald defense. Hutchinson in particular has been unleashed in this defense, and guys like Ojabo, Upshaw and Morris are ideal fits learning on the job. Since we run 5 defensive backs (2 corners, 2 safeties and Dax as the nickel), only 2 official linebackers are run, meaning greater emphasis on the DE/OLB hybrids.
September 28th, 2021 at 8:21 AM ^
Velazquez is pretty big these days.
September 28th, 2021 at 8:29 AM ^
Future DH?
September 28th, 2021 at 12:43 AM ^
It really sucks, but he has been fully phased out. I'd be shocked if he didn't transfer.
September 28th, 2021 at 12:48 AM ^
I mean, I know what you mean, but--it's not like the new defense is a surprise; it's been in place since the spring. there have been other transfers out since then--heck, it's been a free transfer year and he didn't go.
Dunno, but perhaps he really enjoys Michigan? Or wants to finish his degree before he goes? Either way, he's been seemingly exemplary for how he's handled going from huge-part-of-team to spare-part.
September 28th, 2021 at 1:58 AM ^
He’s having more fun than if he’d followed Don Brown, certainly.
September 28th, 2021 at 12:55 AM ^
I think they might've moved Barrett to offense and were training him as a HB type.
September 28th, 2021 at 7:11 AM ^
He would have been interesting as a RB. But if that happens, whose carries would he have taken? Haskins, Corum, and Edwards are pretty much set in stone. Maybe he could try being the third RB next year but again Corum and Edwards are likely 1 and 2
September 28th, 2021 at 1:02 AM ^
Barrett's snaps by position according to PFF:
DLine: 3
Box: 15
Slot Corner: 2
Kick Coverage: 29
Kick Return: 12
Punt Coverage: 12
Punt Return: 22
FG Block: 1
That's 76 snaps on special teams and 20 on defense, so it looks like he's pretty much just a special teamer. Guess the new defensive staff just likes the linebackers a bit bigger in the new scheme. I believe Barrett was the one who ran the fake punt against Washington, so the coaches are trying to keep him involved a little bit, but it is surprising that he has almost no role on the defense considering how good he looked in the Minnesota game last year.
(Edit w/ additional info) - Of the 20 defensive snaps, 5 came against WMU and 15 came against N. Illinois.
September 28th, 2021 at 9:39 AM ^
I just think that he may have looked good at Minnesota last year, but I'm not so sure he can stand in the box and stack and shed against Big Ten OL and come down hill to make play after play. And I'm not suggesting that that's what we have currently, just that I think he is more easily movable so it becomes a bigger issue. Your DTs get blown out, fuck. Your DTs and your MIKE get blown out? GG
September 28th, 2021 at 6:33 AM ^
Harbaugh said he won special teams player of the week this week. Given his high school experience, maybe he could move to RB to replace Haskins when he leaves?
September 28th, 2021 at 7:37 AM ^
He’s too small to play a ‘traditional’ linebacker - his previous position - viper - was a lb/safety hybrid and he doesn’t have the weight to hold up in the new system.
September 28th, 2021 at 8:52 AM ^
I heard his status is single....go for it!
September 28th, 2021 at 8:55 AM ^
He was mostly pretty good as a VIPER! in Brown's defense last year, but he wasn't so good with the actual linebacker things he had to do. That, teamed with his smaller size, has put him at the tail end of any LB rotation. Plus, he isn't quite good enough to roll with the true safeties.
None of this is any shame on him - he just falls into a bad size category for the MacDonald defense, along with Anthony Solomon and Joey Velazquez. They're still contributing (mostly) on special teams, but they just don't fit the defense like they did in Brown's scheme.
September 28th, 2021 at 9:05 AM ^
His status is quo
September 28th, 2021 at 9:06 AM ^
Maybe he likes the school and his teammates, figures he doesn’t have a future in the NFL, and wants to enjoy his last year, focus on his education, and get on with life after football as soon as possible?
September 28th, 2021 at 9:43 AM ^
If he’s winning special team awards, don’t rule out NFL special teamer.
September 28th, 2021 at 10:35 AM ^
I saw on Twitter from Space Coyote that he is going to play a nickel/hybrid (basically Viper) role a bit since it allows Michigan to flex form odd to even fronts and not get stuck in that even front every play against Wisconsin.
September 28th, 2021 at 11:16 AM ^
Came here to post this! If they get into more mixed fronts this will be exciting to see. If you think about it, he was a HS QB, was an RB here, then a viper. It makes sense it would take a while for him to download an NFL styled defense with traditional roles and responsibilities after that meandering path to the position.
With that said, he's a plus athlete and has shown some ability. Being able to get more athletes on the field and also getting the benefit of scheme flexibility will only pay dividends down the road. Hope this comes to fruition.
September 28th, 2021 at 11:39 AM ^
His status is he's getting passed by younger, bigger guys as his previous role of VIPER is not as applicable in the new defense.
September 29th, 2021 at 2:20 AM ^
I thought the same. Felt like we overly specialized at will and mike considering we’re playing in nickel 90% of the game. I’d like them to play the two best guys in the middle.
Once NHG and Colson played together our run fits we’re 10x better on the last two series. Mullings really struggled to call the D, and was just plain bad in run defense in the 4th quarter. There was one off tackle shotgun draw where he played pass first and got blocked by a WR for a 15 yard gain. If MacD was in the booth he would’ve been pulled much sooner.
I’d like Barrett to play out there in coverage downs. He’s still a playmaker and he’s fast. 220 lb linebackers are just fine against spread offenses. Need senior leadership out there when confidence is shaken.